11 Months After Theft : Abike Dabiri Receives Nigeria’s Stolen Toyota Prado Recovered From Ghana

International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) recovers Toyota Prado SUV stolen in Nigeria from Ghana.

Recovered Toyota Prado is the official vehicle of NiDCOM Secretary, which was stolen at gunpoint in November 2023.

During the handover ceremony, Abike Dabiri expressed her gratitude for their tireless efforts in tracking the vehicle.

INTERPOL highlighted the importance of reporting of stolen vehicles, noting that many Nigerians fail to do so.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in partnership with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL, Nigeria) have successfully recovered Nigeria’s stolen Toyota Prado SUV from Accra, Ghana.

According to a statement by NiDCOM, the recovered Toyota Prado is the official vehicle of the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Sule Bassi, which was stolen from him at gunpoint in November 2023.

During the handover of the recovered Prado, the Chairman of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her gratitude to INTERPOL and the staff of the Commission for their tireless efforts in tracking and retrieving the vehicle.

She said : “I want to thank INTERPOL in both Nigeria and Ghana, the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana, and our dedicated NIDCOM staff member, Akinsola Akinboye for their hard work in tracking and recovering the vehicle.

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“Almost a year ago, this car was stolen, and we are grateful for Dr. Bassi’s life as well. Through diligent tracking, we were able to recover the car from Ghana. This recovery is truly historic for us,” said Dabiri-Erewa.

INTERPOL’s representative in charge of vehicle crimes and investigation, Onyebuchi Matthew, stated the collaborative effort that led to the recovery.

According to him : “The report of the stolen vehicle was made nearly a year ago, and we immediately began communication with our counterparts. Initially, the vehicle wasn’t in Ghana but was later traced there. Special thanks to NIDCOM staff, particularly Akinsola Akinboye, for his vital contributions.

Matthew stated further highlighted the importance of prompt reporting of stolen vehicles to INTERPOL, noting that it will prevent innocent third-party buyers from unknowingly purchasing stolen vehicles.

“We’ve recovered multiple vehicles stolen from Nigeria and abroad. However, many Nigerians fail to report stolen vehicles promptly, which makes recovery more challenging. It’s crucial to
report stolen vehicles to INTERPOL immediately, so they can be registered in our database.”

Dr. Sule Bassi, Secretary to NIDCOM, whose vehicle was recovered, also shared his relief and gratitude : “The trauma of the armed robbery was difficult to overcome, but escaping it was a miracle.”

Adding further :

“I had just arrived home when gunmen attacked me. Luckily, I managed to run to safety, and my wife was unharmed. Seeing the vehicle brings back many memories. We prayed for two things: the recovery of the car and the exposure of the culprits responsible for the crime.”

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) noted that the successful recovery of the vehicle highlights the effectiveness of cross-border collaboration and reinforces the need for timely reporting of stolen vehicles.

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